--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a perspective that I've gained as…" description: "\"There's a perspective that I've gained as an astronaut that I didn't get from my science activities. In my science activities, I learned by the seat of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/john-m-grunsfeld-8114_life_there-s-a-perspective-that-i-ve-gained-a_1338254.jpg" --- # There's a perspective that I've gained as an astronaut… ![“There's a perspective that I've gained as an astronaut that I didn't get from my science activities. In my science activities, I learned by the seat of my pants. Spending 17 years as an astronaut, I learned the NASA formalism of systems engineering as if my life depended on it. Literally.” quote by John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/john-m-grunsfeld-8114_life_there-s-a-perspective-that-i-ve-gained-a_1338254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/john-m-grunsfeld-8114_life_there-s-a-perspective-that-i-ve-gained-a_1338254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/john-m-grunsfeld-8114_life_there-s-a-perspective-that-i-ve-gained-a_1338254.jpg) > “There's a perspective that I've gained as an astronaut that I didn't get from my science activities. In my science activities, I learned by the seat of my pants. Spending 17 years as an astronaut, I learned the NASA formalism of systems engineering as if my life depended on it. Literally.” [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hands‑on experience offers practical insight, while formal systems engineering provides disciplined, reliable frameworks. **In simple terms:** Practical learning vs. formal engineering. Key Takeaway Balance intuition with structured methods. Themes learning systems engineering experience Mood analytical thoughtful Type technical inspirational When to use this quote - project planning - team leadership - mission design - education Key Concepts engineering space exploration risk management Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust intuition over protocol? - How can you integrate both approaches? A Different Perspective Formal methods can be rigid; intuition may miss details. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronaut/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [I've always been somebody who wants to have my hands in all of the baskets, and I would go through these obsessive periods when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-ortega/i-ve-always-been-somebody-who-wants-to-have-my-hands-in-all-of-the/) [Jenna Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-ortega/) > [The biggest honor is to be an astronaut. It's such a tremendous privilege to be able to represent humankind in our quest to explore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/the-biggest-honor-is-to-be-an-astronaut-it-s-such-a-tremendous/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I grew up on the south side of Chicago in the 1960s, and I think there was a synchronicity of events that inspired me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-grew-up-on-the-south-side-of-chicago-in-the-1960s-and-i-think-there/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Being an astronaut, there are not a lot of things that have really shocked me in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/being-an-astronaut-there-are-not-a-lot-of-things-that-have-really/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [At the age of six, I declared that I wanted to be an astronaut. My mother thought that was just fine, as it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/at-the-age-of-six-i-declared-that-i-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-my/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [When you talk to astronauts, the most profound thing when you finally go into space is the view - looking back at the planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-hansen/when-you-talk-to-astronauts-the-most-profound-thing-when-you-finally/) [Jeremy Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-hansen/) > [My optimism and confidence come not from feeling I'm luckier than other mortals, and they sure don't come from visualizing victory. They're the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/my-optimism-and-confidence-come-not-from-feeling-i-m-luckier-than/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [Rugby has surprisingly helped me a lot as an astronaut and when I'm training in the space suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/rugby-has-surprisingly-helped-me-a-lot-as-an-astronaut-and-when-i-m/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [“Sometimes when people find out I’m an astronaut, they ask, “So what do you do when you’re not flying in space?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/sometimes-when-people-find-out-i-m-an-astronaut-they-ask-so-what-do/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [I stayed in the astronaut program until 1993. People ask me why I left. I thought I had a lot of things to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-stayed-in-the-astronaut-program-until-1993-people-ask-me-why-i-left/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [NASA is developing space taxis to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station. And just like New York taxis, they're all going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/nasa-is-developing-space-taxis-to-shuttle-astronauts-to-the/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [I think the astronaut job is the best job in the world. I realized when I was older and started applying for it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-massimino/i-think-the-astronaut-job-is-the-best-job-in-the-world-i-realized/) [Michael J. Massimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-massimino/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) ## More by John M. Grunsfeld > [I'm absolutely compelled for NASA to send international astronauts to Mars to find out if Mars ever harbored life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-m-absolutely-compelled-for-nasa-to-send-international-astronauts-to/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Sciences are being unified by the search for life in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/sciences-are-being-unified-by-the-search-for-life-in-the-universe/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [The most striking thing to me about human space flight and my own personal experience is that I've seen dramatic changes on Earth. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/the-most-striking-thing-to-me-about-human-space-flight-and-my-own/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [At the age of six, I declared that I wanted to be an astronaut. My mother thought that was just fine, as it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/at-the-age-of-six-i-declared-that-i-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-my/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I can't imagine anywhere I'd rather be than outside the space shuttle in my space suit next to the Hubble Space Telescope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-can-t-imagine-anywhere-i-d-rather-be-than-outside-the-space-shuttle/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Going to Mars would make NASA great again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/going-to-mars-would-make-nasa-great-again/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Hubble uniquely has been able to look in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting a nearby star and figure out what's in that atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/hubble-uniquely-has-been-able-to-look-in-the-atmosphere-of-a-planet/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I got lucky and got assigned to Hubble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-got-lucky-and-got-assigned-to-hubble/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I see no difference between scientific exploration and human exploration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-see-no-difference-between-scientific-exploration-and-human/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Being an astronaut, there are not a lot of things that have really shocked me in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/being-an-astronaut-there-are-not-a-lot-of-things-that-have-really/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I kind of feel like I found my cause in life servicing the Hubble Space Telescope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-kind-of-feel-like-i-found-my-cause-in-life-servicing-the-hubble/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I'm an incurable romantic. But I'm not an adrenaline junkie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-m-an-incurable-romantic-but-i-m-not-an-adrenaline-junkie/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [One of the things that happens in space is that there is a fluid shift. You get a lot of extra pressure, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/one-of-the-things-that-happens-in-space-is-that-there-is-a-fluid/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [The things I like to do involve a lot of mental focus, a combination of physical and mental challenge. That is what mountain climbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/the-things-i-like-to-do-involve-a-lot-of-mental-focus-a-combination/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [Once in a while, the universe lets you be free alone and in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/once-in-a-while-the-universe-lets-you-be-free-alone-and-in-peace/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) [Explore all 84 John M. Grunsfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) ## More Astronaut quotes > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I think the astronaut job is the best job in the world. I realized when I was older and started applying for it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-massimino/i-think-the-astronaut-job-is-the-best-job-in-the-world-i-realized/) [Michael J. Massimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-massimino/) > [NASA is developing space taxis to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station. And just like New York taxis, they're all going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/nasa-is-developing-space-taxis-to-shuttle-astronauts-to-the/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [I stayed in the astronaut program until 1993. People ask me why I left. I thought I had a lot of things to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-stayed-in-the-astronaut-program-until-1993-people-ask-me-why-i-left/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“Sometimes when people find out I’m an astronaut, they ask, “So what do you do when you’re not flying in space?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/sometimes-when-people-find-out-i-m-an-astronaut-they-ask-so-what-do/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Rugby has surprisingly helped me a lot as an astronaut and when I'm training in the space suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/rugby-has-surprisingly-helped-me-a-lot-as-an-astronaut-and-when-i-m/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [My optimism and confidence come not from feeling I'm luckier than other mortals, and they sure don't come from visualizing victory. They're the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/my-optimism-and-confidence-come-not-from-feeling-i-m-luckier-than/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“My experiences in the Astronaut Corps had taught me that you never know what will happen from day to day. It’s best to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-melvin/my-experiences-in-the-astronaut-corps-had-taught-me-that-you-never/) [Leland Melvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-melvin/) > [As a kid, I knew I wanted to be either a cartoonist or an astronaut. The latter was never much of a possibility, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/as-a-kid-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-either-a-cartoonist-or-an-astronaut/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [I think it's good to have competition. Now we have a third country that can launch astronauts, so it's good for all of us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-think-it-s-good-to-have-competition-now-we-have-a-third-country/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [I was told when I grew up I could be anything I wanted: a fireman, a policeman, a doctor – even President, it seemed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-was-told-when-i-grew-up-i-could-be-anything-i-wanted-a-fireman-a/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic. The Earth was absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-leonov/the-earth-was-small-light-blue-and-so-touchingly-alone-our-home-that/) Alexey Leonov > [“Whilst my mother couldn't give me access to the world, she at least made sure to let me know it existed. A kid cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/whilst-my-mother-couldn-t-give-me-access-to-the-world-she-at-least/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) [Browse all 463 Astronaut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronaut/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's a perspective that I've gained as an astronaut that I didn't get from my science activities. In my science activities, I learned by the seat of my pants. Spending 17 years as an astronaut, I learned the NASA formalism of systems engineering as if my life depended on it. Literally.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John M. 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